Rumors: Detroit Tigers “focusing” in on free agent shortstop Javier Báez
The Detroit Tigers have made it known this offseason that they have will continue to spend some money this offseason, as they have already signed left-handed starting pitcher Eduardo Rodríguez to a five-year deal. They have also been at the top of the sweepstakes for a shortstop but, as GM Al Avila said, they will not “spend like drunken sailors.”
They have been linked to Carlos Correa and Marcus Semien but, perhaps, that’s in the “drunken sailors” territory for them, so MLB.com’s Jon Morosi reports that the Detroit Tigers and free agent shortstop Javier Báez have had discussions on a contract in recent days.
Source: #Tigers, Javier Báez have had talks on a free-agent contract within the last several days. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 26, 2021
The Detroit Tigers could be pivoting to Javier Báez as their shortstop for the future
In addition to Morosi’s report, Buster Olney of ESPN also reports that the Detriot Tigers did talk to Marcus Semien and Carlos Correa but now, they are “focusing” on Javier Báez.
The Tigers had talked to Marcus Semien, Carlos Correa before recently focusing on Javier Baez, who likely will be less expensive than what Correa, Semien seeking. Baez was offered 8/$168m by Cubs in March 2020 and his camp said no…but COVID hit, interrupted those negotiations.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) November 26, 2021
If this is true, it would be a huge letdown for fans of the Detroit Tigers, as many were hoping that they would get Carlos Correa, Corey Seager, or Trevor Story. Semien is a little bit older and can also play second or third base like Báez. However, statistically, he and the former three shortstops are far superior to Báez.
Báez, who turns 29 next week, played in 138 games in 2021 and he hit .265/.319/.494 with 31 homers, 87 RBI, and an OPS+ of 117. He led the NL in strikeouts with 184 and that OPS+ was his best OPS+ since 2018, when his OPS+ of 129 (and NL-leading 111 RBI) helped him come in second in NL MVP voting to Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich.
Overall, between Correa, Seager, Story, Semien, and Báez since 2016, Báez has the most amount of games played between the five (Báez has 782 and Semien is next with 780) and he has the fourth-lowest rWAR between the five (23.7 rWAR and Seager is last at 19.7, with 173 fewer games played).
Next. It's "Corey Seager or bust" for the Dodgers. dark
Báez will likely get a contract in the neighborhood around five years and $100-$120 million this offseason (MLBTradeRumors predicts five years and $100 million) whereas the other four will likely get $140 million and, for Correa and Seager, over $300 million for ten or more years.